Live From the 2026 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings

And that’s a wrap

The REALTOR® News team was honored to shine a light on the steadfast efforts of NAR’s homeownership advocates and volunteer leaders. We made lasting connections and gained a plethora of ideas for future real estate coverage. 

Read all of our REALTORS® Legislative Meetings articles here, and stay tuned for a report on the June 18 Board of Directors meeting. —The Editors 

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Time for the main event!

The last item on the 2026 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings agenda is our Board of Director’s meeting. This is my first one, and the energy is electrifying! The way it’s set up is similar to the U.S. political party conventions. Members representing each of NAR’s 13 regions plus others representing councils and institutes are able to vote on key action items twice a year at RLM and NXT conferences. 

Altogether nearly 1,000 volunteers join in the room and virtually, enacting change. The meeting follows Robert’s Rules of Order and usually lasts through the morning. —Kyle Fobe
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Juneteenth and the meaning of home

On Wednesday, between meetings at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C., the REALTOR® News team spent a few hours at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

I expected to learn more about Juneteenth and emancipation. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would be moved by the stories of the communities that African Americans built in the years that followed.

Throughout the museum were exhibits highlighting Black towns and settlements established after slavery ended. Places like Nicodemus, Kansas; Mound Bayou, Mississippi; Eatonville, Florida; Freedmen's Town in Houston; and the all-Black towns of Oklahoma. These weren’t just places on a map. They were expressions of hope.

Library of Congress

Again and again, I read stories of people who had every reason to be discouraged by the world around them but chose instead to build something. They bought land. They built homes. They established schools, churches, newspapers, libraries, banks and businesses. They created communities where families could put down roots and pursue opportunities that had been denied to them for generations.

One museum exhibit included a simple advertisement promoting land ownership in Whitesboro, New Jersey. Its headline asked a question that felt just as relevant today as it did then: "Have You a Home? Why Not?"

The ad promised more than land. It promised belonging. Owning a home, it suggested, made someone "a better citizen and a more desirable neighbor." It spoke of opportunity, stability and a place to call your own. “Why not own a home at beautiful Whitesboro, N.J., near the sea?”

As I walked through the exhibits, I found myself thinking about how universal that desire is.

Whether it was formerly enslaved people settling in Kansas in the 1870s, families establishing Freedmen’s Town in Houston after emancipation, or Black pioneers creating entire towns across Oklahoma, the goal was consistent: to build a future, create opportunity for the next generation and establish a place of belonging.

Of course, many of these communities faced enormous challenges. Some were bypassed by railroads. Some were undermined by discriminatory policies or outright targeted with violence. The story of Black homeownership in America includes both extraordinary achievement and heartbreaking loss.

State Library and Archives of Florida

These communities remind us that home has always been about more than the structure itself, but the place it creates for people gather, find peace and safety, learn, raise children, build businesses and support one another. Home is where community takes shape.

A visit to the museum was a reminder that the work real estate professionals do in helping people find a place to call home is connected to something much larger. On Juneteenth, let’s recognize what so many people did with their freedom—they built communities, opportunity and home. —Erica Christoffer
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REALTORS® advocate for consumers on Capitol Hill

As the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings wind down, NAR members visited with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of consumers and the industry.

“If real estate is your profession then politics [is] your business,” says Reah Smith, an agent in Seneca, S.C., and NAR’s federal political coordinator for South Carolina Rep. Sheri Biggs. “We've got to come in to these spaces where the decisions about housing—the real estate industry, are being made and advocate for our industry, for the clients and customers that we serve in the transaction.” —Eliana Block

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Standing up for fair housing

Yesterday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, I met Amy McCoy, a passionate fair housing advocate who sees the Legislative Meetings as essential to staying informed and engaged.

Amy McCoy, associate broker, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Atlanta

Years attending RLM: 10

Why she keeps coming back: Amy returns each year because she understands the direct connection between national policy and local impact. 

With a strong commitment to advocacy—shaped in part by her late neighbor, Congressman John Lewis—she believes real change requires being actively involved in the process. 

Favorite part of the 2026 conference: Policy and advocacy sessions, where discussions directly shape the future of the real estate industry and the communities REALTORS® serve.

Advice for members considering attending: “You bring a local lens that could be the voice needed at the national level.” She encourages members not to work in silos, but to come together, collaborate and engage in the broader conversation shaping the industry. —Kyle Fobe 

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ICYMI: Meet our podcast host

At the “NAR REALTOR® News Change Agents” podcast booth, Compass real estate broker Kameron Kang asked podcast host Bennett Richardson: “As you are improving the REALTOR® brand, helping us position ourselves nationally, what are the metrics that you’re using to measure your success in that field?” Bennett welcomed the question, citing positive results of NAR's consumer engagement efforts.

Launched in March, the podcast offers a window into the thinking of real estate thought leaders as they candidly examine the forces reshaping the market. Attendees were encouraged to tape questions that will air on future episodes.

At the booth, members got the chance to ask several NAR leaders all sorts of questions. NAR Vice President of Communications Raffi Williams took the hot seat and shared his experiences recording the NAR This Week video, which goes live every weekend, spotlighting the top things going on in real estate advocacy, research and market dynamics. —Eliana Block

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Broker engagement rises through web portal, local visits

During the Broker Engagement Committee meeting on Wednesday morning, the Small Broker Committee noted that they have three sub-committees focused on education, broker tools and web content. A new dedicated small broker website is now live, featuring business resources and AI tools.

The group also promoted the National Broker Mastermind, which is scheduled for Oct. 15 at 2 p.m., and reminded brokers to watch NAR’s member portal “the Hub” for details.

Broker relations liaison Bernice Helman then delivered a broad NAR update, highlighting packed broker forums and how NAR is working to support and maintain a “360-degree view and full understanding of MLS trends and needs, and potential issues.” She also noted clarification on private listings and clear cooperation.

Helman then outlined NAR’s legal work, highlighting multiple antitrust wins, plus advocacy on housing supply, capital gains reform and independent contractor status.

Nykea Pippion-McGriff reported on 19 broker-facing events across 14 states reaching over 19,000 broker peers, and promoted broker.realtor and smallbroker.realtor as new one-stop broker resources. —Nicole Slaughter Graham

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Getting out of your shell

I enjoyed running into a member who specializes in new construction and working closely with small builders.

Magda Esola, sales manager, BSI Builder Services, Charlotte, N.C.

Years attending RLM: seven

Why she keeps coming back: Esola returns to RLM for the learning, connections and big-picture view of the industry. She values understanding what’s happening across different markets—especially when referrals are involved. “Real estate is local,” she says, “but you need to know what’s happening everywhere.” Events like RLM create space for idea-sharing and collaboration that help drive business forward.

Favorite part of the 2026 conference: A market insights session featuring Dr. Yun stood out, particularly around identifying different types of potential buyers and new opportunities in today’s market. She was also inspired by members’ commitment to advocating for and protecting the future of the industry.

Advice for first-time attendees: “Get involved. Get out of your shell and connect.” Esola emphasizes that success in real estate is built through relationships, and RLM offers a unique opportunity to grow your network, learn from others and contribute to the industry in a meaningful way. —Eliana Block

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Modernizing the transaction with fintech

On Tuesday afternoon, RLM attendees tuned into the NAR Tech and Innovation session to hear how fintech, AI, crypto and evolving regulations are reshaping real estate transactions.

Panelist Penny Lee of the Financial Technology Association explained that fintech has moved from a niche concept to tools embedded in everyday business, with nearly every company now touching payments or money movement in some way. She said her members aim to remove friction from transactions so real estate practitioners can meet consumer expectations for faster payments instead of waiting days or even 30 days for settlement.

Rick Altizer, CEO of Earnnest, described how his startup digitizes earnest money deposits, replacing hand‑delivered checks with a fully digital, fully compliant “good funds” solution. Since 2017, Ernnest has processed about 800,000 deposits with zero cases of fraud or lost funds, even as wire and check fraud and email phishing continue to rise. 

Altizer pointed to outdated “good funds” laws as a major friction point, highlighting Texas’ statute that still limits unsecured instruments like personal checks or cash to $1,500, a provision written in 1972, while his company moves money in all 50 states. He argued that national “good funds” legislation is needed to modernize how digital payments are treated in real estate.

Panelists emphasized that AI is already embedded in fintech and lending, with companies long using machine learning and large language models for backend efficiencies and code. The transition to “agentic” AI that lets humans actively explore and apply AI tools will continue to enhance the landscape.

Right now, AI is driving backend efficiencies, faster creditworthiness assessments and real-time cashflow underwriting at firms like Figure and Rocket Mortgage. That said, it’s simultaneously raising concerns about bias, transparency and fairness in models, which is why human oversight is still so important.

Speakers urged real estate pros to build a “moat,” cut costs and grow revenue with AI while staying ahead of fraudsters who are early adopters of these tools.

On the topic of crypto currency, Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council, argued that digital assets and blockchain are “here to stay,” with the real promise in underlying technology such as using blockchain to track title and modernize real estate infrastructure.

Lee distinguished among cryptocurrency as an asset class, stablecoins as one‑to‑one dollar‑backed rails for faster global payments, and tokenized deposits that let banks move USD deposits over faster rails. These are tools, she said, that can enable cheaper, 24/7 settlement and reduce reliance on checks and wires in real estate transactions. —Nicole Slaughter Graham

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Another influential Influencer

NAR Influencer Viv Cunningham says attending REALTORS® Legislative Meetings is critical for staying connected to advocacy efforts and building relationships that benefit both business and community.

Viv Cunningham, past president, Preferred RE Brokers III, Lake and Sumter Counties, Fla.

Years attending RLM: 10

Why she keeps coming back: She attends RLM to stay informed and effectively represent her community, particularly by engaging directly with elected officials and ensuring they understand local needs.

Favorite part of the 2026 conference: Legislative sessions and leadership updates, especially discussions around the direction of government and what’s ahead for the industry.

New this year: After joining NAR’s Influencer group last year, Viv has found value in ready-made content that helps her educate both consumers and fellow REALTORS® about advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Advice for first-time attendees: “If you’re not here, you’re missing out—on business, referrals and relationships.” She recommends attending with a colleague or mentor to help navigate the experience and maximize the opportunity.

Final thought: “If you don’t come, you don’t know what’s happening in Washington.” —Kyle Fobe 

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High-powered photo opp

Conference attendees were excited to rub shoulders with current NAR leadership! Folks had a chance to take photos with the group this morning in the Expo. —Kyle Fobe 

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AI, politics, and reality for brokers

NAR CEO Nykia Wright opened the Broker Policy Forum session this morning by underscoring advocacy as one of the association’s most important assets for both real estate practitioners and consumers. Then she introduced NAR Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn and Axios co-founder Mike Allen for a forward-looking conversation on technology, politics and media.

Allen framed the moment as a once-in-a-century convergence of three “tectonic” shifts: artificial intelligence and technology, both political parties reinventing themselves in real time, and a fragmented information environment where Americans increasingly live in separate realities.

For brokers, he argued, AI should be seen as a “force multiplier” that can supercharge roles across an organization, from prospecting to operations, especially because so many business problems are already written down in ways that generative AI can analyze.

McGahn described how NAR is leaning into this moment by doubling the size of its advocacy communications team to feed more accurate, searchable information into AI systems so that when people ask questions about real estate practitioners and NAR, they get answers directly grounded in the association’s work. Allen called this approach “very smart,” likening it to a new era of “generative engine optimization” where organizations must structure content so AI models surface the most current, accurate information first.

The discussion also touched on the political and policy backdrop brokers must navigate. Allen noted both political parties are in the midst of creating new identities, which we are witnessing in real time. Meanwhile, the rapid buildout of AI data centers is emerging as a bipartisan national security and campaign issue, driven by the enormous power demands of advanced models and concerns about keeping pace ahead of China.

Allen closed with practical advice from Axios’ “Smart Brevity” and forthcoming “Simplify” frameworks: know your “one thing,” communicate like a human, and ruthlessly delete low-value work so you and your teams can focus on the right work in a rapidly changing landscape. —Nicole Slaughter Graham

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QOZs 2.0

As policymakers prepare for the next round of Opportunity Zone designations, industry leaders gathered for the State and Local Issues Roundtable to examine how the program’s next phase could shape housing, economic development and community revitalization efforts nationwide.

The session, The Next Opportunity: Opportunity Zones 2.0, brought together federal, state and local experts to discuss lessons learned from the original program and outline how REALTORS® and community stakeholders can engage as the new designation process begins in 2026. —Ross Hettervig 

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Lots of positive energy on the economy

During the Residential Economic Issues and Trends Forum this morning, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explored what a peace deal with Iran might mean for oil prices—and by extension interest rates and home sales. Yun said he’s currently forecasting a modest 4% increase in existing-home sales this year. That’s a downward revision from early in the year, when cyclical trends suggested 2026 would have a much bigger recovery.

Although oil price shocks and renewed inflation have dampened expectations, Yun said a hoped-for peace deal and other factors offered reasons for optimism. The country is not in a recession, he said, and there are 500,000 more jobs in the U.S. today than before the pandemic. If the country could get home sales back to pre-COVID levels, it would be a big boost to the economy and government tax revenues, Yun said. (That’s why NAR is lobbying for federal policies that would stimulate sales.)

Following Yun’s presentation, Deputy Chief Economist Jessica Lautz shared 10 ideas for where to look for your next client. Among the crowd favorites: those who bought 10 years ago and may be itching for a change, single men, and HENRYs (high-earning, not rich yet).

Both Lawrence’s and Jessica’s presentation slides are available online. —Stacey Moncrieff 

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Meet and greet

I chatted with a member of NAR's Influencer Program, who is finding value in our small broker programming this week. She said amid recent industry changes, NAR is advocating more strongly for members than at any point in her career.

Ingrid Prather, broker/owner, Premier Properties Realty, Athens, Tenn.

Years attending RLM: 14

Why she keeps coming back: Attending RLM is essential to bringing back knowledge and resources to her small association of about 600 members. Earlier in her career, she felt her market was often behind the curve—but she believes stepping into leadership and attending RLM helped change that trajectory.

Favorite part of the 2026 conference: The Small Broker Committee meeting stands out. Ingrid says that NAR has “stepped up its game” in supporting small brokers with tools and insights that help them better serve clients and staff.

Advice for members considering attending: “Plan for it, save for it, and come with an expectation for growth.” —Kyle Fobe 

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Digging into the details

The Property Management Forum on Monday was a fast-paced, forum-style program bringing together regulators, industry advocates, legal counsel and insurance leaders to walk property managers through evolving compliance, risk and insurance realities in rental housing.

The first segment featured representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency’s lead-based paint program, who outlined why lead-based paint remains a hazard in pre-1978 housing and explained the basics of its Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.

The second group, representing the National Association of Residential Property Managers, focused on the regulatory and liability landscape from the property management perspective.

NARPM’s advocacy lead described members’ concerns about the 2022 withdrawal of EPA FAQs that had previously functioned as a “safe harbor” for property managers who hired certified renovators, and outlined ongoing dialogue with EPA and potential longer-term legislative clarifications.

Monica K. Gilroy, Esq., with The Gilroy Firm in Atlanta, then broadened to general risk management, giving high-level updates on Fair Housing Act enforcement trends and offering practical liability-limiting tips such as neutral screening policies, owner education, escalation protocols, exculpatory clauses in management agreements, documentation habits, and the importance of appropriate errors and omissions coverage. 

The final segment, led by IREM leadership, addressed the current property and liability insurance environment and what both owners and management companies can do to manage rising costs and exposures. They shared broad trends in premiums across asset types, linking recent increases to catastrophic events and litigation. IREM says focus on the fundamentals: strong broker relationships, deductible strategies, proactive property inspections and maintenance, and tenant insurance tracking. —Nicole Slaughter Graham

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Let the good times roll

It’s never too soon to talk about our next conference! This year, NAR NXT is heading to New Orleans, Nov. 6-8.

David Favret (pictured at center), chair of the Meetings and Conference Committee, says prepare to learn some local sayings like “laissez les bons temps rouler,” which is French for, “let the good times roll!” Registration for NAR NXT is now open. —Eliana Block

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Valuable networking

Dozens of REALTORS® Trade Expo attendees gathered for the networking roundtables, where the best and brightest of NAR’s employees shared their knowledge. Some of the topic-focused roundtables included tips and tricks for using social media to leverage your voice, incorporating AI in your business research, and audience segmentation strategies for marketing your skills.

If you missed today’s sessions, don’t worry: We have a whole new set of them tomorrow starting at 11:30 a.m. 

Cheap plug: Please stop by the “Leveraging News to Work with Clients” session and say hi to me! At the same Expo location, I’ll be moderating along with NAR Media Communications Manager Spencer High (pictured above, second from left). —Kyle Fobe

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See yourself in the Consumer Ad Campaign

I just filmed my own gif at the Consumer Ad Campaign booth, and it was so easy and fun! Think of it as a business-meets-photo-booth. I picked my virtual background (residential-commercial), grabbed a few props and threw any self-consciousness out the window. 

Four snaps later, and I had my own 10-second video. A few people I spoke with said they loved the idea and they’re always looking for social media content. Behold the gif in all its glory. —Eliana Block

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Commercial group charts path with new survey data

Members of the NAR Commercial Committee and the larger group of commercial attendees in the room reviewed a fresh commercial needs assessment, showing top challenges around affordable market data and tech platforms. The assessment was a new survey offering from NAR’s research team.

Different from the commercial satisfaction survey, it identified key components for NAR and the committee to work on to better engage and meet the needs of members, including stronger advocacy and education offerings.

Lively debate centered on NAR’s Crexi partnership, data-gathering and sources like CoStar, and how to leverage survey results to negotiate better tech benefits for commercial members.

Affiliate and council leaders from CCIM, REALTORS® Land Institute, Institute of Real Estate Management and SIOR highlighted record membership, sold‑out conferences, global expansion and new tech and education initiatives, underscoring growing momentum in commercial real estate education and advocacy. —Nicole Slaughter Graham

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NAR

History Comes to Life

At Monday’s general session, Doris Kearns Goodwin spoke before a packed ballroom with NAR CEO Nykia Wright. Goodwin shared stories spanning the scope of American history, bringing both a deep understanding of how America has sustained its strength over the past 250 years and optimism for the future.

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She’s already signed up!

At the REALTOR® News booth, attendee Lisa from Rapid City, S.D., found out she was already subscribed for our “Change Agents” podcast. Ta-da. —Eliana Block 

Also going fast...

The White House Commemorative Ornaments, at the REALTORS® Trade Expo, were gone in just nine minutes! —Ross Hettervig

Everyone loves a free t-shirt

Our REALTOR® News “Change Agents” t-shirts were a huge hit. A member displays the logo with pride. And wow look at this line! —Eliana Block 

Go Nats!

And we’re off! The expo floor opened a little ahead of schedule and Honest Abe (Go Nats!) waved to the camera. —Eliana Block

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Early bird gets the seat

I arrived early to see historian Doris Kearns Goodwin at this morning’s general session. I has the great privilege of seeing Goodwin speak after the publication of her book “Team of Rivals.” She did not disappoint then, so I arrived at the session early and snagged a second-row seat. —Stacey Moncrieff

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Smart growth in action

Imagine a neighborhood where residents can walk to a coffee shop, grab dinner at a local restaurant, bike to a nearby park or safely send their children to school on connected sidewalks. According to a first look at NAR’s 2026 Community and Transportation Preferences Survey, that’s still the type of community Americans want—and many are willing to pay more to live there.

That vision was front and center at Sunday’s NAR Smart Growth Advisory Board meeting, where members reviewed preliminary survey findings showing continued demand for walkable communities and discussed how REALTORS® can help bring those preferences to life through local advocacy and development initiatives.

Board Chair William Doerlich, broker-owner of Realty ONE Group TODAY in Pleasanton, Calif., updated members on several ongoing efforts, including Smart Growth Grants, the Transforming Neighborhoods program, NAR’s Land Use Initiative and state and local growth polling efforts. Much of the conversation focused on expanding housing opportunities—particularly “missing middle” housing—and helping state and local associations play a larger role in shaping community-driven development decisions.

Two presentations highlighted how REALTOR® associations are already putting those ideas into action. In Plattsburgh, N.Y., Michael Coughlin, RCE, C2EX, CEO of the Adirondack/Champlain Valley REALTORS®, shared how a conversation between local members and community leaders evolved into a years-long smart growth initiative. 

Ryan Adcock, government affairs director for Greater Nashville REALTORS®, shared how a coordinated effort, involving NAR Smart Growth Grants, polling and issue mobilization funding, helped to support Nashville’s successful “Choose How You Move” transit referendum, approved by voters in 2024.

The common theme throughout the meeting: Smart growth isn’t just a national conversation. It’s happening neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, with NAR members helping shape the future of their communities. —Erica Christoffer

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© NAR / Oscar Associates

Talking taxes

NAR’s advocacy team brought back the “Tax Bros” this year, but they are “bros” no longer. Now joined by Jessica Lautz (pictured at left), NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research, and Shannon McGahn (at right), NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer, the informative session centered around tax legislation and what the advocacy team is doing to make homeownership more affordable.

Also joining the panel were (from left): Matt Stross, NAR director of government advocacy; Joe Harris, NAR vice president of government advocacy; and Evan Liddiard, NAR director of federal taxation.

They discussed the antiquated home equity tax and the changes that they are pushing for on Capitol Hill. Lautz backed up the argument with fresh research from NAR’s research team. —Kyle Fobe

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Meet and greet

In between a packed schedule of sessions, we’re stopping to chat with members about their experiences this week. Here's our first profile:

Jason Burkholder, Hometown Property Sales, Lititz, Pa.

Years attending RLM: Six

Why he keeps coming back: The opportunity to connect with peers from across the country to tackle shared challenges. While Jason often discusses issues locally, RLM gives him access to broader perspectives—and, importantly, actionable solutions that help move the industry forward.

Favorite part of the 2026 conference: The people and the breakout sessions, where meaningful conversations and practical takeaways come together.

Advice for first-time attendees: “Do everything you can. If something  interests you, get in the room.” Jason emphasizes that the information shared at RLM is incredibly valuable to bring back home. For those who couldn’t attend, he recommends making plans for future events like NXT or RLM—and following along online in the meantime. 
—Kyle Fobe

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YPN Advisory Board is on the move

The Young Professionals Network Advisory Board meeting was standing-room only, and the board had many updates about what they’ve been working on. 

Committee applications are open for 2027 and need to be in by June 24th. Advisory Board Chair Brandi Minchillo reminded the room that those interested need up to three written endorsements included with their applications, so anyone interested should start working on those soon.

The “cross-pollination” subcommittee is working on identifying NAR-adjacent organizations that YPN can support and collaborate with. One such example is the Asian Real Estate Association of America, whose group, EDGE, is similar to YPN and focuses on mentoring the next generation of real estate leaders.

Also, YPN Advisory Board members are each given a travel stipend so they can visit YPNs around the country to share their expertise and speak at events. Thus far, advisory board members have traveled to nine locations and have 18 more trips planned. The board reminded everyone that if they want an advisory board member to come to their network, now is the time to get those requests in. 
—Nicole Slaughter Graham

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Exclusive: Social media power hour

A few members of NAR’s Influencers group had an exclusive opportunity to meet with NAR’s social media team to discuss social media best practices and learn more about what NAR is doing to bring content to your feeds.

If you would like to join NAR’s Influencer Program and participate in exclusive opportunities like this, fill out the interest form. —Kyle Fobe

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Humans need to stay in charge

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving from a tool that answers questions to one that can complete real-world tasks across the real estate transaction lifecycle. In a Sunday session, Sharon Love-Bates, NAR’s director of emerging technology, told attendees about the Top 5 Things You Need to Know About AI Right Now.

Bates said today’s large language models are becoming more useful because they can manage complex, document-heavy workflows such as underwriting, lease reviews, zoning research and asset management. The next phase, known as “agentic AI,” moves beyond generating content to actually performing tasks.

“If LLMs are the brains, agentic AI is the action,” she said, emphasizing the importance of keeping humans involved. “Success depends on trust. Show the clear value of AI, and explain what it’s doing.”

The session also featured presentations from three companies in NAR’s REACH scale-up program. Their AI-powered tools help with transaction management, improve manufactured housing data and guide brokers’ use of technology platforms. —Erica Christoffer

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What the latest NAR commercial research shows

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stopped by the Commercial Real Estate Research Advisory Board meeting today and told members to watch for new research on data centers, to be released in September. Yun acknowledged the public outcry in many communities regarding data centers and their use of energy and water resources, but he says the research shows data centers are not impacting residential real estate values at this time.

NAR Economist Chris Lux (pictured at podium) presented highlights of the State-by-State Indicators for Engaging in International Real Estate Transactions report, and NAR Analyst Oleh Sorokin spoke about NAR’s latest Commercial Real Estate Insights Report. Sorokin said:

• Office demand is gaining momentum, with absorption outpacing deliveries and vacancy beginning to decline, particularly in Class A space.
• Over-delivery continues to weigh on industrial real estate, though the pace of new supply is easing. The latest quarter shows signs of improvement with fewer tenant move-outs and stronger leasing activity. He highlighted Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis as bright spots.
• Multifamily demand and delivery are shifting toward Class B properties as affordability pressures push tenants away from higher-priced units.
• Retail remains one of the most stable segments of commercial real estate, supported by low vacancy rates and continued demand for general retail space.

Members in the room also talked about the impact of global developments on employment and real estate; the use of renewable energy sources as a response to rising energy costs; and how malls are being repurposed for other uses.

—Stacey Moncrieff

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The strategy behind NAR

The Strategic Planning Committee gathered Sunday morning after the general session. One of the topics discussed was a preview of the Q2 Strategic Plan update. 

Committee Chair Adam Watkins (pictured at far right) called the plan update “robust” and walked the group through how different NAR committees are driving strategic progress. —Kyle Fobe

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Watch on X

Check out this video sharing the voices of conference attendees, following the Leadership Scoop session. —Eliana Block

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Turning feedback into action

Sitting at the Leadership Scoop session, what I heard is that NAR is listening and turning that feedback into action. That includes the association’s impressive three-year Strategic Plan.

“The plan is informed by feedback from over 150,000 of our members and its growth [is] grounded in what members said they wanted,” NAR President Kevin Brown said.

In the first quarter alone, the association began two-thirds of the 76 projects outlined in the plan. “It is properly ambitious,” NAR CEO Nykia Wright said. “…At the end of 2028, we want to make sure that we have started and successfully executed on all of these projects, which are underpinned by tangible outcomes that our members should be able to see over time.”

I’ll have more to add later in my Leadership Scoop article, so keep a look out for it. BRB, gotta write. —Eliana Block 

And we are off!

NAR President Kevin Brown and CEO Nykia Wright kick off the conference in a big way. 

At the opening general session, Wright immediately put the membership number rumors to rest, announcing year over year only a 25,000-member difference. Last year, NAR had 1,463,352 members. Today, NAR reports 1,438,569 members. 

She then walked everyone through our Strategic Plan in action, including what our advocacy team is doing in Washington, D.C. —Kyle Fobe

Kevin Brown behind the scenes

NAR 2026 President Kevin Brown made an appearance on X @NARAdvocacy this morning.

“I’m getting ready to go on stage in just a couple minutes to talk about how we’re transforming NAR by rebuilding the future member experience and modernizing the association. Also, REALTORS® from all over the country are coming here this week so that we have a voice on Capitol Hill to protect the way you do business, real property rights, and the American dream of homeownership. I hope to see you here.” —Michael Rauber

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Welcome to the nation’s capital

Welcome to the 2026 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings live blog from Washington, D.C. I’m Kyle Fobe, NAR’s director of news and content strategy, and for the next few days, one of your live coverage hosts.

Most of my blog posts will be on the shorter side, but with this being the first one to kick it off, I thought I would go a little long today, and have a little fun.

Look at that beautiful welcome sign! Our events team does such a great job making all of NAR’s events feel larger than life.

For this event, we have a talented blogging team bringing you the sights and sounds of RLM 2026. I’ll be joined by Editor-in-Chief Stacey Moncrieff, Product Manager Erica Christoffer, Contributing Editor Nicole Slaughter Graham, and our Senior Editor Lauren Pinch is back in Chicago making sure we look and write our best.

Eliana Block, our business writer, will also be doing some live blogging for us. She’s a DC local, so hopefully she can capture some of the local flavor for us!

Since today is mostly a travel, prep and registration day, I’ll let everyone get back to their lives, but a couple fun facts about RLM first…

Over the next few days:

• Nearly 10,000 members will descend on our nation’s capital for Hill visits, committee meetings and education sessions.
• 27 different hotels across the city are being used to house attendees.
• And my favorite fact, The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where most of RLM will be held, is home to a whopping 2.3 million square feet of event space, roughly the size of 40 NFL football fields placed side by side (or for my World Cup fans out there, 32 regulation World Cup pitches).

With that said, please remember to pack a comfortable pair of shoes! 
—Kyle Fobe